Items recovered from NUP offices 'to be used as exhibits'

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The Police have said the items recovered from the offices of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) in Kampala in a Friday operation will be used as exhibits in court against several suspects.

A team of joint security forces conducted a raid involving searches at the NUP headquarters in Kavule and their premises in Kamwokya on Friday.

In a statement on Saturday, Police spokesperson, Rusoke Kituuma, said the search at the headquarters was completed Saturday afternoon while that at the Kamwokya facility was concluded on Friday.

"Police report that several exhibits were recovered from these premises and will be used as exhibits," he said, adding that further updates regarding the operation would be provided in due course. 

On Friday, Kituuma had said the raid was as a result of "reports of unauthorized military drills" reportedly conducted at the NUP premises. 

Consequently, joint security teams "mounted a coordinated security operation" at the two locations, he added.

'Ransacked'

On Saturday, NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi reacted to the development, condemning the operation.

"Yesterday, they broke every door, disconnected our internet and CCTV systems and switched off electricity in some parts. We don't know yet what they are planting there or taking away," he said.

The former Kyadondo East MP said security officials who raided the NUP School of Leadership at Kamwokya took away books from their library, computers, T-shirts and other materials at the shop.

"They ransacked all offices and took away all important documents," he said.

"They didn't even leave any single document on the noticeboard! They broke all doors and shattered some glasses."

On February 12 this year, NUP members from various districts in Uganda staged what was akin to a military parade at the party headquarters.

This caught the attention of security officials, who claimed the party was training a militia, leading to the raids.